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The Prevalence of Meniscal Pathology in Asymptomatic Athletes

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Abstract

Background

Meniscal pathology is a commonly seen orthopedic condition that can affect a wide age range of patients. Athletes subject their menisci to an increased amount of stress during their careers and may increase their risk of meniscal pathology.

Objective

The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the prevalence of isolated meniscal pathology in asymptomatic athletes.

Methods

A systematic review was undertaken to determine the prevalence of meniscal pathology in asymptomatic athletes. A search of multiple databases was conducted. Recreational and higher-level athletes were included. Fourteen articles including 295 athletes (208 male, 87 female) were identified for inclusion (age range 14–66 years, mean 31.2 years). Meniscal pathology was visualized with magnetic resonance imaging and graded on a 1–4 scale (grades 1 and 2 indicating intrasubstance damage, grades 3 and 4 indicating a tear).

Results

There was an overall prevalence of 27.2 % (105/386) of knees with intrasubstance meniscal damage (grades 1 and 2), and 3.9 % (15/386) of knees with a tear (grades 3 and 4). When athletes were split into those who participate in pivoting sports versus non-pivoting sports, pivoting athletes showed an overall prevalence of 15.3 % (31/202) of knees with intrasubstance meniscal pathology and 2.5 % (5/202) of knees with a tear. Non-pivoting athletes showed a prevalence of 54.5 % (61/112) of knees with intrasubstance meniscal pathology and 5.4 % (6/112) of knees with a tear.

Conclusion

The overall prevalence of isolated meniscal pathology in asymptomatic athletes was 31.1 % (27.2 % with intrasubstance meniscal damage and 3.9 % with a meniscal tear). More studies of age-comparable, non-athletic populations are necessary for direct comparison with these groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, USA

    Corey T. Beals, Robert A. Magnussen & David C. Flanigan

  2. Department of Orthopaedics, Sports Health and Performance Institute, The Ohio State University Sports Medicine Center and Cartilage Restoration Program, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, 2050 Kenny Road, Suite 3100, Columbus, OH, 43221, USA

    Corey T. Beals, Robert A. Magnussen & David C. Flanigan

  3. OrthoCarolina, 10650 Park Rd, Suite 120, Charlotte, NC, 28210, USA

    William C. Graham

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  1. Corey T. Beals
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  2. Robert A. Magnussen
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  4. David C. Flanigan
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Correspondence to David C. Flanigan.

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Funding

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this article.

Conflict of interest

Corey Beals, Robert Magnussen, William Graham, and David Flanigan declare that they have no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this review. David Flanigan is a consultant for Smith & Nephew, Vericel, Conmed, Depuy-Mitek, and Zimmer.

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Beals, C.T., Magnussen, R.A., Graham, W.C. et al. The Prevalence of Meniscal Pathology in Asymptomatic Athletes. Sports Med 46, 1517–1524 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0540-y

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